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AD239V Architecture and Gender: Studio 7.5 credits

Arkitektur och genus: Studio

By working with architectural projects, the course aims at enabling the student to develop tools for feminist interpretations of architecture and in an extended sense, to create new architectures. During the course we will study current feminist theore and examine how houses and other built structures relate to it. The course is built up with individual project assignments, seminars and project reviews.

  • Educational level

    Second cycle

  • Academic level (A-D)

    C

  • Subject area

    Architecture

  • Grade scale

    P, F

Course offerings

Spring 13 for single courses students

  • Periods

    Spring 13 P3 (3.5 credits), P4 (4.0 credits)

  • Application code

    20003

  • Start date

    04/02/2013

  • End date

    2013 week: 21

  • Language of instruction

    English

  • Campus

    KTH Campus

  • Number of lectures

  • Number of exercises

  • Tutoring time

    Daytime

  • Form of study

    Normal

  • Number of places *

    10 - 15

    *) The Course date may be cancelled if number of admitted are less than minimum of places. If there are more applicants than number of places selection will be made.

  • Target group

    The course is a part of the course series Architecture and Gender, which is directed towards a broadly defined feminist target group: for instance students of architecture, planning, design and art, professionals within these fields as well as those in other fields who are interested in architecture.

Learning outcomes

Through working with architecture projects, the course aims at developing tools for feminist interpretation of architecture and in an extended sense create new architecture.

On completing the coure, the student has

  • developed new tools and methods to identify, critically analyze and suggest projects that will change normative and excluding notions and practices within architecture and design.
  • been trained to identify, critically analyze and redefine normative/excluding notions, situationer and practices in the physical environment through architectonic exercises and assignments.
  • discovered new possibilities to connect research and practice.

Course main content

During the course we will, in the form of a project, study contemporary feminist theory and investigate how building and other built structures relate to it. We will deal with feminist critique of the culture of architecture and its relation to sexuality, ethnicity and class and as an upholding force for normative power structures.The course deals with a series of concepts: body, materiality, subjectivity, space etc, which are treated in relation to architecture. The course focuses on the relation between space and body (bodies). By an intervention, we investigate body, space and site in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes.

Disposition

The course consists of a series of 2-hour seminars with short design exercises and group discussions, where we experiment with spatiality on site and out of different perspectives, documentation work and a final seminar for presentation/discussion. There will also be short reading assignments as a preparation for some of the seminars.

Eligibility

University studies of 60 cr (hp) and documented proficiency in English B or equivalent.

Literature

Ahmed, Sara, ‘Orientations: Toward a Queer Phenomenology,’ GLQ, 12:4, Duke University Press, 2006. (utdrag- sidor 557-560)

Gender Space Architecture, av Jane Rendell, Barabara Penner, Ian Borden, London: Routledge, 2000. Specifika läsningar meddelas vid kursstart.

Ian, Marcia, ‘When is a Body Not a Body? When It’s a Building,’ Joel Sanders, ed., Stud – Architectures of Masculinity, Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, 189-205.

Martin, Biddy & Chandra Talpade Mohanty, ‘Feminist Politics: What’s Home Got to Do with It?,’ Teresa de Lauretis, ed., Feminist Studies/Critical Studies, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986, 191-212. (utdrag- sidor 195-197, 200-205 Scenario 2)

Pratt, Minnie Bruce, ‘Identity: Skin Blood Heart,’ Elly Bulkin, Barbara Smith and Minnie Bruce Pratt, Yours in Struggle: three feminist perspectives on anti-semitism and racism, New York: Long Haul Press, 1984, 11-63. (utdrag- sidor 16-19)

Further readings will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Examination

  • MOM1 - Active Participation 80%, 2.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
  • MOM2 - Assignment, 2.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
  • MOM3 - Design Project, 2.5 credits, grade scale: P, F

The course is examined continually through participation on seminars and documentation/presentation at final presentation.

A student who is absent on more than 2 seminars will have to make a short extra assignment. Absence on more than 3 seminars will require the whole course to be repeated.

Requirements for final grade

Requirements for final grade:

  • Presence at least 80%
  • Participation on all seminars
  • Documentation and presentation for final presentation

Offered by

ABE/Architecture

Contact

katja Grillner, grillner@kth.se

Examiner

professor Katja Grillner

Supplementary information

The course is directed towards a broadly defined feminist target group: for instance students of architecture, planning, design and art, professionals within these fields as well as those in other fields who are interested in architecture.

Version

Course plan valid from: Spring 11.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 09.